DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52770#0134
Munich. Original (first state), enlarged.
II. (Not reproduced.) Some of the finer details have been lost by the wearing of the
plate ; it has then been retouched by a very skilful hand, though probably not by
Diirer himself, and restored as nearly as possible to its original condition. But, as
compared with the first state, the following differences, among others, are noticeable
(from left to right) :—
The line on the right defining the outline of St. John’s brow, which in I extended only
half way up the brow, has been continued to the parting. The lines of shading on
his right cheek are horizontal, instead of slanting downwards. Some horizontal lines
to be seen in I along the lower side of the right cross beam of the cross, and beyond
Christ’s left hand on the left cross-beam, are wanting. Christ’s nose is no longer
defined by two clear lines. Four short horizontal lines beneath Mary’s left eye have
disappeared. . The end of her nose has been altered. The nose of the woman on the
extreme right, and the lines on her sleeve near the elbow, have been altered.
These differences can only be clearly seen with the aid of much enlarged photographs
of the two states placed side by side. They were first detected in 1912 by Dr. 0.
Weigmann of Munich, who subjected to a minute examination the impression sold
at Stuttgart in 1911 at H. G. Gutekunst’s Auction No. 70 (lot 306), which is the only
impression hitherto discovered of this previously undescribed state. An account
of Dr. Weigmann’s lecture on this print to the Munchener Kunsthistorische Gesell-
schaft was published in Kunstchronik 1913, S. 324-5 (see also S.387); I have to
thank the author for lending, me the MS. of his lecture and several photographs
in illustration of it.
116
II. (Not reproduced.) Some of the finer details have been lost by the wearing of the
plate ; it has then been retouched by a very skilful hand, though probably not by
Diirer himself, and restored as nearly as possible to its original condition. But, as
compared with the first state, the following differences, among others, are noticeable
(from left to right) :—
The line on the right defining the outline of St. John’s brow, which in I extended only
half way up the brow, has been continued to the parting. The lines of shading on
his right cheek are horizontal, instead of slanting downwards. Some horizontal lines
to be seen in I along the lower side of the right cross beam of the cross, and beyond
Christ’s left hand on the left cross-beam, are wanting. Christ’s nose is no longer
defined by two clear lines. Four short horizontal lines beneath Mary’s left eye have
disappeared. . The end of her nose has been altered. The nose of the woman on the
extreme right, and the lines on her sleeve near the elbow, have been altered.
These differences can only be clearly seen with the aid of much enlarged photographs
of the two states placed side by side. They were first detected in 1912 by Dr. 0.
Weigmann of Munich, who subjected to a minute examination the impression sold
at Stuttgart in 1911 at H. G. Gutekunst’s Auction No. 70 (lot 306), which is the only
impression hitherto discovered of this previously undescribed state. An account
of Dr. Weigmann’s lecture on this print to the Munchener Kunsthistorische Gesell-
schaft was published in Kunstchronik 1913, S. 324-5 (see also S.387); I have to
thank the author for lending, me the MS. of his lecture and several photographs
in illustration of it.
116